Sign



A. H. MEINIG.

slam.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1920.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

#i ATTORNEY.

UNITED lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. MEINIG, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SIGN.

i ,lio-melia.

Application filed March 20, 1920. Serial No. 367,503.

To all whom it 'may concern.'

Be it known that l, ARTHUR H. MEINIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of' which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in signs and relates-more particularly to an electrically illuminated sign.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sign in which the letters will be illuminated in a clear cut manner with a minimum of electric current.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the draining of moisture and rain water from the interior parts of sign and to keep the same at all times free from collections of moisture and water.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide al simple and inexpensive construction embodying a sign which may be readily transported and-to the interior ofwhich easy access may be had.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the constructions, combinations, a-nd arrangements of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim.

Referring more particularly tothe accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofan im* proved sign constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. Il is a vertical sectional view taken on the line H in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 also in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the improved s1 n.

t2leferring more particularly to the drawings, wherein only a single mechanical embodiment of the invention is shown, 1 designates a casing of a box-like formation, preferably made of metal of a suitable heavy gauge for withstanding out-door use. The front wall 2 of the casing preferably has its edges extending beyond the casing sides to produce an ornamental appearance and also to present a symmetrical appearance together with the out-turned flanges 3 provided at the rear of the casing and bent 'at right angles from the body thereof.

In the front wall is made an opening conforming to the character of the display and 1n Figs. 1 and 2 this opening is shownvto be cut in the out-line of the letter B. Flanges 4 are made adjacent the opening and are turned inwardly of the casing 1. These flanges d are of a substantial depth 1n order to co-operate with similarly inturned flanges 5 formed on blocks 6 which fit within the opening in the front wall 2 and combine to present an outline of the letter B. The blocks 6 are also made of sheet metal and are secured to a glass or other translucent panel 7 which is fitted within the casing 1 and against the inner edges of the flanges 4; and 5. y

Bolts 8 preferably'pass through the blocks 6 and the glass panel 7, for this purpose. rlhe front wall 2 `may be made in one piece with the lbody 1 of the casing, or it may be made separate therefrom and united at the edges 9 of the easing bodyby soldering, welding or the like.

Within the casing are placed strips 10 preferably of angle-iron construction having one Vflange thereof resting against the interior side wall of the casing and the other flange engaging against the vertical edges ofthe glass panel 7 in order to hold the samev securely against the flanges 4. i Bolts orotlier fastenings -11 secure the strips 10 to the side walls of the casing 1.

The rear flanges 3 which project at right angles to the `body of the casing are adapted to receive the over-turned edges 12 of a rear cover plate 13. which thus has a vertically sliding movement on the flanges 3 and may be lifted in order to give access to the interior of the casing` 1.

A turned-over edge 14@ is also provided at the top of the vertically sliding cover plate 13 in order to engage the top flange 3 to avoid the cover plate 13 descending too far. The turned-over edge 14 also forms a convenient means by which to grip'the cover `and lift the same.

A handle or bail 15 of suitable construcetion is pivotally secured to brackets 16 carcured by appropriate fastenings 19 to one of the side walls of the casing. An electric cord 2O passes through a porcelain insulator 21, enters the casing, and has the wires encased therein connected to the two terminals of the socket 18.

The cord 20 is of course connected with a suitable exterior source of electricity. In the bottoni portion of the casing 1 are provided a suitable number of drain openings 22 which extend to both sides of the lower edges of the glass panel 7 in order to allow moisture or rain water toescape from the casing.

ln use, the front wall` 2 of the casing may ot course be cut to provide any other letter than that shown, or the saine. may be pro vided with any combination of letters or words or devices and the blocks 6 may or may not be employed Vaccordingly as the letters or words differ.

However, when the blocks 6 are used the top fianges 5 (1o-operating with the similar top fianges l of the front wallv 2 form perpendicular surfaces at right angles to the glass panel 7 and they thus direct the light rays which issue through the glass 7 from the electric lamp 17 in direct paths forwardly from the sign and thus produce a more vivid and intense display than would otherwise be the case were the rays allowed'to disperse and dilfuse in all directions.

The handle 15 is raised `in the manner shown in 'the drawings when it is to be gripped to carry the sign about, but it will be understood that it may fold down against the top of the casing.` In case the electric bulb 17 is to be replaced 'or access for any other reason is desired tothe interior ofthe casing 1 the cover plate 13 may be raised, the turned over edges 12 sliding on :the fianges 3. y

These turned-over edges will preferably frictionally grip the flanges 3 to some slight extent at least sufficiently to hold the cover plate 13 in a raised position, leaving both ends free to perform any necessary work within the casing.

. The glass panel 7 is also preferably coated with a white translucent and luminous paint which will be useful to display the sign in daylight and which will not interfere with the passage of `light rays from the lamp 17 at night,

I desire it to be understood that changes may be made in the size, form, and proportions of the Various parts and that other modifications Amay be made provided the same fall within thespirit of the invention as definedv inthe appended claim.

lNhat is claimed is: i

A sign of the character described,` comprising a substantially rectangular box hayving its front portion open, angle strips secured to the side walls of the box on` the interior thereof and spaced JirornV the front open end thereof, a translucent plate fitted against said strips inwardly of the front portion of the box, a front plate secured over the open front portion of the box and having a central part cut out in the form of a letter and provided with in-turnedv fianges adjoining the cut-out and being disposed' at right' angles to the plane of the plate, said flanges extending' rearwardly to the translucent plate and bearing thereagainst,'blocks also having flanges resting against said translucent plate and fitted in the cutaway portion of the front plate toy complete the for mation, of a letter, means passing through the blocks and translucent plate to hold the 'blocks' in place, and illuminating means within the box. i In testimony whereof, I have aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

i v ARTHUR H. MEINIG."

Witnesses: r

ARTHUR H. STURGns, E. C. STURGES; 

